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said one of them, pointing with a sticklike finger to the cylinder, 'was developed recently. It will interfere with the Waro's genetic enhancements and turn their violence against themselves.'

'You worked on that in the CIA bunker?' asked Trainor.

'Those of us trapped within the craft detected the approach of the Waro.'

'What exactly will this chemical do?' asked the Brigadier.

'In the short term, it will inhibit the creatures' group mentality.' The Nedenah paused for a moment before continuing. The Waro are very angry and aggressive. For decades their planet was plagued by destruction, conflict and infighting. Empires rose and fell. There was little technology, no exchange of ideas.'

'So what happened?'

'They genetically and chemically limited their anger. They were still creatures of hatred, but now that hatred was directed against "not-Waro". This substance will reverse that

"progress", turn the Waro against each other once again.'

'And in the longer term?'

'The tempo of aggression will increase exponentially.

Eventually the aggressive feelings will overload their nervous systems.'

'So they will literally die of anger?' asked Trainor.

'Fascinating.' The Brigadier understood. 'It's a kind of mental laxative, then.' he said with a suppressed grin.

The Nedenah looked at him blankly.

'Never mind. What must we do with it?'

The alien looked towards the air base. 'Flood the skies,' it said simply. 'A tiny amount of the fluid will destroy hundreds of Waro.'

'I'm glad you've got a vat the size of Bedfordshire,' said the Brigadier, remembering how many Waro he'd seen. 'Now, how to get it up there?'

As he mused on this problem, a familiar voice echoed up from beneath the ridge.

'Sir?'

'Captain Yates?'

'Yes, sir,' came the distant reply. don't believe it, sir. I thought you were in Europe.'

'Evidently not, Captain,' said the Brigadier. 'Get up here.

We've got a job to do.'

It took Yates, Shuskin, Liz and the other soldiers a few minutes to fully comprehend that standing before them were a group of aliens who weren't interested in taking over the world.

'Something unique in my experience,' observed Liz. As she listened to the Brigadier's story, it had become clear to Liz that Bernard Trainor, a man who had been like a father to her, was implicated in the conspiracy up to his neck, and possibly beyond. She found herself unable to look at him as the Brigadier, Shuskin, and Yates discussed tactics.

'I suppose you had your reasons,' she said eventually.

'Of course, Elizabeth. Reasons are important. I taught you that much, surely?'

'Why?' she asked.

'Why? Why is the sky blue? Why is grass green? Some things simply "are", my dear.'

'That's no answer, and you know it!' she said, rounding on him with an anger that surprised her. 'You once told me truth was the only part of science that mattered.'

'I lied,' he said, shamefaced. 'The only science that matters is the search for truth.'

Liz turned away as the Brigadier, Shuskin, and Yates walked over with several of the Nedenah. 'The repercussions can wait,' said the Brigadier, seeming to have overheard the stormy conclusion to their argument. 'For UNIT, for the CIA, for all of us. We must concentrate on stopping the Waro.' He turned to Shuskin. 'Now, Captain, you say the Doctor is still out there.' - he indicated the wide expanse of desert before them - 'building some form of jamming contraption.'

'Yes, sir.'

'I trust you left a radio with him?'

'Of course, sir,' said Shuskin, seemingly astonished that the Brigadier could think for a second that she would have neglected to do so. She produced the hand-held UNIT

walkie-talkie. 'Channel five, sir,' she said.

'I am aware of the standard frequency, Captain,' noted the Brigadier, and operated the radio, which crackled into life.

'Hello?' said a distant voice. 'Is anybody there?'

'Doctor?'

'Well, it's hardly going to be Round the Horne, is it?'

joked the Doctor. 'Lethbridge-Stewart? I thought you were in Europe.' 'Where are you?' asked the Brigadier.

'Close to the air base. I've got the jamming device